Craddick charms local Republicans

PHARR - Tom Craddick doesn't always expect a warm reception.

Even surrounded by more than 100 members of his own political party Wednesday evening, the Republican speaker of the Texas House of Representatives was cautious accepting a wrapped gift from McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez.

Taking the bag, which contained a book, he asked, "Does it tick?"

Craddick, R-Midland, spoke at the Hidalgo County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Nomad Shrine Club, 1044 W. Nolana, Pharr.

In a speech highlighting the Legislature's accomplishments in last year's session, he drew a strong distinction between Austin and Washington, D.C., and between state and national GOP officials.

"Right now, I want you to focus on what we do in Texas, not what we do in Washington," Craddick told his fellow Republicans.

For example, he noted, Texas has a budget surplus and recently cut property taxes, while the federal budget deficit skyrockets.

The genial speaker won thunderous applause from the older audience when he criticized rising home appraisals across the state.

"A lot of you didn't see all that (reduction in property taxes) because your appraisals went up, and we've got to get control of our appraisals."

During his past five years as Texas House speaker, Craddick has defeated determined challenges from both sides of the aisle, sometimes ruthlessly. Last year he used parliamentary maneuvers to block efforts from fellow Republicans to unseat him.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry, he said, carries in his jacket a terse note from Craddick, written in response to an early request to compromise on a bill: The message reads, "No."

"I'm not going to give," Craddick said.

Between sessions, he said, he spends much of his time visiting House members' districts. Although the Upper Rio Grande Valley has no Republican representatives, three close Democratic allies - Reps. "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview, Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, and Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City - are based here.

Flores and Peña each faced opponents in the March Democratic primary who attacked them for being "too close to Craddick." None of the three were present at the dinner, but Craddick said he met with the two Hidalgo County representatives earlier in the day.

"They won, so obviously it didn't register with the voters that well," Craddick said when asked about the attacks.

"When I was in the minority (in the House), I worked with the leadership and I became the first committee chair from my party in decades," he added.
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Sara Perkins covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4472.